Air heater



A. B. MODINE Spt. 13, 1932 AIR HEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug, '7, 1929 3 6 [War-E. M 7

A. B. MODINE Sept. 13, 1932.

AIR HEATER Filed Aug. 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 in il A. B. MODINE Sept. 13, 1932-.-

AIR HEATER Filed Aug. '7. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR B. MODINE, F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO MODINE MANUFACTURING CQMPANY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN AIR HEATER Application filed August 7, 1929. Serial No. 384,203.

My invention relates to heat exchange devices and has to do more particularly with heaters especially adapted for use in industrial establishments.

' It is well known that in any enclosed space the air close to the floor is always the cold est, and, inasmuch as the bodies of persons engaged in such an enclosure must necessarily be disposed adjacent-the floor and the lower part of the room, it is desirable thatv the air in such lower portions be maintained at a comfortable temperature. A defect common to the heating systems of many industrial establishments is that they frequently heat the air in certain localized portions of the enclosure, frequently at points above the floor in order that the heating units may not occupy valuable floor space, while the air adjacent the floor is permitted to remain at a temperature deleterious to bodily health and comfort.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a heating device which will cause a circulation of air from the floor or lower portion of the enclosure in which the device is disposed, through. a heating unit, and back into the enclosure.

Still a further object is to provide a mounting for a heating unit which will adequately support the same while permitting thermal expansion thereof.

Another object is to provide an improved tank for aheating unit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type referred to in which the fan actuating motor is protected from the heating unit so as not to be injured by the heat thereof.

I Still another object of my invention is to provide aheating unit of improved design which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and rugged.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of which the invention is susceptible, it being obvious that changes'and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit. of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectlonal view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a feature of the invention. I

A device embodying my invention comprises a supporting stand indicated generally at 10; this stand has legs 11. Brace bars 12 are secured to opposite pairs of the legs 11 for maintaining them rigidly in place. Extending around the legs 11 is a jacket 13 formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like; one end of this jacket is spaced a suitable distance above the floor 14, so that an opening is provided between the legs below the jacket 13 for the passage of air. A rectangular frame 15 is securedto the tops of the legs 11 to provide means for attaching other elements of the structure.

Supported above the stand 10 is a heating unit indicated generally at 16 in Figs. 1 and 3. This unit comprises a lower tank 18 and an upper tank 19 which communicate with each other by means of tubes 20, to which heat radiating vanes or fins 22 are secured,

The tubes 22 are secured by welding, solder, or other suitable means at their opposite ends to header plates 23, these header plates have flanges 26 which are arranged in grooves 27 of the tanks 18, as best shown in Fig. 6. The tubes 20 and the vanes or fins 22 are formed of a comparatively thin metal, which is a good conductorpf heat.

The upper tank 19 is connected with a hollow frame member 25, having a U-shaped passage 26, said frame member 25 and the head being secured to each other by bolts 27. The bolts 27 are passed through sleeves 28 arranged in the interior of the tank and are screwed into bosses 29 provided upon the frame member 25, a gasket 30 being arranged between the tank and the frame member 25 so as to insure a fluid-tight connection between the tank and frame member. The frame member is provided with an opening into which a pipe connection or nipple 31 is threaded to provide a connection between the device and asource of supply for the device.

The lower tank 18 has a pair of sleeves 32 provided therein, similar to the sleeves 28 of the tank 19, which house bolts 33 to form a connection with the frame 15. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that these sleeves provide more than suflicient clearance for the bolts 33. The purpose of this construction is to permit thermal elongation of the tubes 20, and resulting vertical movement of the tank 18, and to thus avoid fractures and leakage at the points of connection between the tubes and tanks. Means is provided to yieldably hold the head 18 and other elements connected therewith relatively to the frame 15; this means includes springs 36 disposed within the sleeves 32, which react between the heads 42 of the bolts 33 and the shoulders 37 of the tank, so as to urge the tank against the frame 15. A gasket 38 is provided and located between the tank and frame to provide a fluid tight connection at this point.

A fluid connection is formed between the tank 18 and an outlet pipe 42. This connection includes a nipple 39 which extends through an opening in the frame 15 and is connected with the tank 18. A pipe 40 is connected with the nipple 39 by means of a coupling 34 from which the pipe connection 40 extends and is connected with the outlet "42. This tubular connection 40 is of some from the frame 15. The tubular connection 40 has an enlargement which is interposed between the frame 15 and the nipple 44.

The frame member 25 is provided with a rearwardly projecting bracket arm which provides a support for a bracket or motor and fan support 53, these brackets being secured together by means of bolts 51.

The bracket 53 supports a bushing 56 and this bushing supports a motor 54-. The motor 54 is supported atone end by a connection with the bushing 56 which is stationary with respect to said bracket 53; this bushing has a bracing 58 which is held relatively to the bushing by means of the member 57. The bushing 56 is bored to receive the shaft to allow rotation of the shaft relatively to said bushing. The shaft 55 has a fan 60 secured to one end thereof, said fan being retained on the shaft by means of'a. nut 61. The fan is mounted for rotation in the casing 61 which casing is attached to the heater unit 16 and serves to direct the air currents 16 is a pair of side plates 65 to which are attached louvers 67 which are employed for directing the'current of air set up by the fan at any desired angle to the horizontal, each of these louvers are provided with lugs 48 which are secured to the plates by bolts or other suitable means 69.

In the operation of the device above described, the pipe 31 is connected to any suitable source of heating fluid (not shown) such as steam or hot water, this fluid being circulated through the passage 26 provided in the member 25, the tank 19, the tubes 20 and the tank 18,- the cooled fluid being carried away by the pipe 40 and the pipe connection the motor 54 is protected by means of the rear wall 63 from the heating unit and thus is not in danger of injury from excessive temperatures. Furthermore, by having the rear wall 63 sloping, as shown in Fig. 3, this wall serves as a deflector for air passing through the fan housing, and also produces a rela tively large air chamber with a. comparative- 1y short fan shaft, the latter being desirable in order to reduce vibration as much as possible. It is evident that the structure, particularly the connection or support including the bolts 33 whereby the lower tank 18 is connected with the frame 15 provides means for compensating for the expansion and contraction of the tubes 20 and that relative movement of this tank is also permitted through the flexible tubular connection 40,

whichwill allow movement of the above men-.

tioned parts without resulting in any leakage at the connection of this tube with the drain or outlet pipe 42. 7

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to cover is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heat exchange unit forming a wall of said hollow member, a member having means for supplying fluid to said unit. said member providing a wall of the hollow member, means for supporting said hollow member in spaced relation to a floor or the 1 serving also as a conduit for heating fluid,

like, an air conduit carried by said supporting means and communicating with said hollow member, said conduit extending toward and spaced from said floor, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly through said conduit intosa-id hollow member and out through said heating unit.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member and comprising spaced tanks connected by tubular means, means f or supporting said heating unit and serving also as a conduit for heating fluid, tubular means for conducting fluid away from said heating unit including flexible means providing means compensating for linear expansion and contraction of said heating unit, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly into said hollow member and out through said heating unit.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow' member and comprising spaced tanks connected by tubular means, a hollow member providing a wall of said first mentioned hollow member and providing means for supporting said heating unit sai hollow member serving as a conduit .for heating fluid, means for supporting said first mentioned hollow member in spaced relation to a floor, tubular means for conducting fluid away from said heating unit including flexible means providing means compensating for linear expansion and contraction of said heating unit, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said first mentioned hollow member and out through said heating unit,

4. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member and comprising spaced tanks connected by tubular means, and

means for supporting said hollow member in spaced relation to a floor, a connection between said supporting means and said heating unit such connection providingmeans compensating for 'movement of said unit, relatively to said supporting means, 'an air conduit carried by said last mentioned supporting means and communicating with said hollow member, flexible tubular means for conducting fluid away from said heating unit, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly through said conduit into said hollow member and out through said heating unit.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member, means for supporting said hollow member from a floor or the like and a connection between said heating unit and the hollow member, said connection providing for movement between said unit and support and means for inducing a current'of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said member and out through said heating unit.

6. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit'forming a wall of said hollow member, means for supporting said hollow member in spaced relation to a .floor or the like, a connection between said unit and support providing for relative movement between said support and said heating unit, an air conduit carried by said supporting means and communicating with said hollow member, said conduit extending to a point spaced from said floor, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor, through said hollow member and out through said heating unit.

7. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member, a member providing another wall of said hollow member, said last mentioned member having a conduit formed therein, meansfor supporting said heating unit from a floor or the like, a connection between said heating unit and said support providing for relative movement between the heating unit and support and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said member and through said heating unit.

8. In a device of the class described, a hollowmember, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member, means forming a wall of the hollow member having means communicating with said heating unit, means for supporting said hollow member from a floor and means providing a frictional connection between said heating unit and support therefor, said frictional means providing for relative movement of the heating unit, a support and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said member and through said heating unit.

9. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member and comprising an upper tank and a lower tank, connected by tubular means, means for supporting said heating unit and serving also as a conduitfor heating fluid, means for supporting said hollow member from a floor or the like, a fan and a motor for driving the fan connected with said hollow member, means providing for movement of said heating unit rela-' tively to said support, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said member and out through said heating unit.

10. In a device of the classdescribed, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of said hollow member, means for supporting said heating unit and said hollow member from a floor, said means including means providing for movement of said heating unit relatively to said support and hollow member.

11. In a device of the class described, a hollow member, a heating unit forming a wall of saidhollow' member, and comprising an upper tank and a lower tank connected by tubular'means, means for supporting. said hollow member from a floor, means providing a connection providing for movement of said heating unit relatively to said hollow member and support, means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor into said member and out through said heating unit, and a flexible conduit provided between said heating unit and support.

12. In a device of the class described, a hollow member open at one end, means for supporting said member, said member having an opening in a side wall thereof, said opening being arranged adjacent the upper end of said hollow member, a heat exchange unit arranged relatively to said opening to provide a closure therefor, means for supplying fluid to said unit, air advancing means located in said hollow member, and supported by said last mentioned means, and means for actuating said air advancing means, said last mentioned means being arranged exteriorly of said hollow member.

13. In a device of the-classdescribed, a

hollow member open at its opposite ends,

said hollow member having an opening provided in a side thereof adjacent one end arranged transversely of said first mentioned openings, a heat exchange device arranged at said side opening, means providing a closure for an end of said hollow member, said means providing a means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange device, air advancing means and means for actuating said air advancing means supported by said means providing said closure.

14. In a device of the kind described, a hollow member having an air inlet opening, a vertically arranged heat exchange device located at the upper end of said hollow member, means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange device, said means being arranged at an edge of said heat exchange device and extending therefrom into engagement with the walls of the hollow member, air advancing means arranged in said upper portion of said hollo'w member and adjacent saidheat exchange device, and means for actuating said air advancing means.

15. In a device of the kind described,a member having side walls and a connecting wall and an air inlet and.outlet opening, a heat exchange device arranged adjacent the outlet opening, means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange device, said means being arranged at one edge of said heat exchange.

device and providing means with which said walls are connected, air advancing means located in said member, and means for actuating said air advancing means.

16. In a device of the kind described, the

combination of a tubular member, achamber located at one end and communicating with said member, a heatexchange unit providing a wall of said chamber, means for supply-' ing fluid to said heat exchange device, said means providing a wall of said chamber, one of said walls of the chamber being inclined from an edge of said means to an edge of said tubular member, means for advancing air through said heat exchange unit, said last mentioned means being located in said chamber, and means for actuating said air advancing means, said actuating means being located outside of said chamber.

17. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a tubular, member, a chamber located at one end and communicating with said member, a heat exchange unit providing a wall of said chamber, means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange device, said means providing a wall of said chamber. one of said walls of the chamber being inclined from an edge of said means to an edge of said tubular member, means for advancing air through said heat exchange unit, said last mentionedmeans being located in said chamber, and means for actuating said air advancmg means, said first mentioned means providing means for supporting said air advancing means.

18. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a tubular member; a chamber located at one end and communicating with said member, a heat exchange unit providing a wall of said chamber, means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange device, said means providing a wall of said chamber, one of said walls of the chamber being inclined from an edge of said means to an edge of said tubular member, means for advancing air through said heat exchange unit, said last mentioned means being located in said chamber, and means for actuating. said air advancing means, said first mentioned means providing means for supporting said air advancing means and said actuating means.

19. In a device of the class described, a hollow member adapted to be supported-in spaced relation to a floor, a heat exchange unit providing a wall of said hollow member. means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange unit, said means and hollow member being connected with each other to support said means of said hollow mem ber said heat exchange unit being connected with and supported by said means, and means for inducmg a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor and laterally through said unit.

20. In a device of the class described, a hollow. member adapted to be supported in spaced relation to a floor, a heat exchange unit providing a wall of said hollow member. means for supplying fluid to said heat exchange unit, said means and hollow member being connected with each other to support said means of said hollow member, said heat exchange unit being connected with and supported by said means, and means for induc ing a current of air to flow upwardly from said fioor andlaterallythrough said unit, said last mentioned means being supported by saidmeans for supplying fluid to said'heat exchange unit. 7

21. In a device of the class described, a hollow member adapted to be supported in spaced relation to a floor, a heat exchange unit providing a wall of said hollow m'ember, means extending across an end of said hollow member for supplying fluid to said heat exchange unit, said means and hollow membervbeing connected with each other to support said means bysaid hollow member, said heat exchange unit being connected with L and supported by said means, and means for inducing a current of air to flow upwardly from said floor and laterally through said unit.

' In 'witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of July, A. D. 1929. ARTHUR B. MODINE. 

